Yonder’s music scene seeks support

Crowd-pleaser: Isaiah B. Brunt entertains the crowd at Yonder back in February before lockdown

By MATTHEW MCKEW

A campaign’s been launched in Queenstown to keep the resort buzzing with the sound of music.

Yonder prides itself on being the place to be for up-and-coming artists in New Zealand.

But, with Covid-19 hitting the purse strings, there’s some concern for its future as one of the resort’s cultural hubs and the bar’s calling for locals to chip in.

Yonder’s been nominated for a national Boosted NZ campaign in collaboration with Save Our Venues and awarded $3000.

But, they’ll get none of that cash if they don’t hit their overall funding target of $15,000 by June 17.

Boosted’s a crowdfunding website allowing people to contribute as much or as little as they can, but only takes that money and dishes it out when a funding target is hit by a certain deadline – otherwise it hands all those donations back.

The starter money comes from Boosted NZ, the Arts Foundation and Music Helps.

Save Our Venues is a grassroots organisation set up in the wake of the virus to save small live music venues that make up the national touring circuit.